Wayne Coyne on Arcade Fire

[wml7]

This is awesome

Some might hear an Arcade Fire song-- all that sweeping sincerity and gusto!-- and guess that the band is a little pompous in real life. They're rock'n'roll saviors, dammit! Well, according to Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne, Arcade Fire are actually a lot pompous in real life. At least that's what he told Rolling Stone in a recent interview. (Via Stereogum.)
Here's the humorously antagonistic quote:

I'm a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness. We've played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, "Who do they think they are?" I don't know why people put up with it. I wouldn't put up with it. I don't care if it's Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I'd be like, "Fuck you, get outta here."

People treat Arcade Fire like they're the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they're pricks, so fuck 'em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I've been around groups. I've been around the Edge from U2 and he's the fucking sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person. Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don't, then fuck 'em.

This isn't the first time Coyne has called out some of his fellow musicians, of course. Talking to The Guardian about one-time tour mate Beck in 2003, he said, "When you hear his songs, you think he must really have some tender feelings, but then you find out it's a made-up thing." And in an interview with The Daily Star last year he managed to slag Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Razorlight, and Duffy without taking a breath. Either he's trying to apply for NME's editor-in-chief position or dude simply does not give a shit. It's incredible.

[DeathFromAbove1979]

Wayne Coyne's a beast.

[sweetcell]

Win fires back: no, you're the dick

[walkonby]

maybe win will next say he's sleeping with wayne's wife . . . then steve will go out and shoot win . . . then a member of win's "posse" will kill wayne . . . . 

indie is the new rap.

[bearman🐻]

I've never met Win, but I hung out with Wayne once in like 1995. He was a lot of fun and a really cool guy, VERY extroverted. That being said, I can understand that maybe he made a quick opinion of the Arcade Fire. Funny, I was watching my Coachella movie DVD last night and I was really enjoying how diverse the whole thing is. When it got to the Arcade Fire, I watched it and thought "hmmmmm...I have seen them and loved them, listened to the CD's, but I'm just not IN love with them". And then the Flaming Lips came on and even though I am familiar with their stuff and don't listen to them often, I infinitely preferred their performance. It was more sloppy, but way more fun.

The thing about Arcade Fire is that they got a lot of hype early on, and when that happens, a lot of times it can make even the most down-to-earth bands become total douchebags. I loved the last issue of Magnet because they really dished on certain folks, and they blatantly called R.E.M. out on the fact that they're pretentious assholes and have been making shitty records for the last 17 years. They also pretty much ripped on Neko Case, and how some of the New Pornographers roll their eyes about what a diva she thinks she is. I like her, but have never understood the hype. Sometimes it's nice to remember that musicians are like any other people. Sometimes they just blow. I love early Smashing Pumpkins and don't let my ill feelings toward Billy Corgan interfere with my enjoyment of their first few records. I met the guy like 4 times. 3 of them he was a total asshole, but 1 time he was out of his usual rock star element and was perfectly nice.

So I cut Win some slack...he's young, and Wayne's an older dude with opinions. I like curmudgeons. Look at Lou Reed, who has always been one. They're entertaining. Win should just suck it up, and if he's an asshole then so be it. That doesn't change the fact that I had a really fun time watching the Stone Roses on stage at a festival with Wayne, and we shared a moment where we talked about music, festivals, and stuff we liked and disliked. Not all of our heroes will like us, and vice versa.

[Bombay Chutney]

Pitchfork is the new Access Hollywood.

[sweetcell]

Pitchfork is the new Access Hollywood.

WIN

(as in lack of fail, not butler

[Darth Ed]

Who cares? Separate the art from the artist.

[DeathFromAbove1979]

Who cares? Separate the art from the artist.

I guess if the artist is a douche and the art isn't that great it's less easy.

[K8teebug]

I met Win waaaaay back before their first show at the 930 forever ago and he was a dick.